Bradford City 2-1 Carlisle United: Two-goal Cook sinks Blues

The Bradford No9 struck either side of a fortunate Harrison Neal goal as Carlisle lost their first League Two game after the departure of Paul Simpson.

It was a sixth defeat in seven in all competitions as United, under caretakers Steven Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt, failed to keep home dangerman Cook at bay.

The ex-United man scored from close range after an early Jon Mellish error and then, after home keeper Sam Walker had spilled in a tame Neal effort to bring Carlisle level on 58 minutes, Cook rose to head the winner 20 minutes from time.

It came in front of an 18,041 crowd, including 1,756 vocal travelling Carlisle fans, who saw Charlie Wyke hit the post amid a lively attacking performance, but Bradford could also have had more goals.

United are now third bottom in the early league table as their struggles go on - while they also lost Ben Williams to a serious-looking first half injury, fellow defender Terell Thomas also limping off in the second half.

Harrison Biggins went straight into the Carlisle side for his debut just over a week after his deadline-day loan arrival.

He was joined in the XI by Dominic Sadi, who made his first league start, but both Aaron Hayden and Daniel Adu-Adjei were not in the squad.

Bradford, meanwhile, made four changes from their previous league game with Jamie Walker, Oliver Sanderson, Clark Oduor and Cheick Diabate all coming into the home side, but Calum Kavanagh, son of ex-United boss Graham, was not in their XI.

Under the drizzle at Valley Parade, the teams came out to a loud welcome - and Carlisle could have scored inside the first minute when Josh Vela attacked down the right, but Wyke, found in space, miscued his finish.

And Carlisle were then punished less than a minute later with a highly avoidable goal.

Keeper Harry Lewis, booed by home fans on his return to Bradford, played the ball low to Mellish, but the defender's touch was poor and Walker pounced before squaring for Cook to convert.

Valley Parade erupted and it took a Mellish block to prevent Cook forcing another with a header.

Ben Williams, left, went off with a serious-looking injury (Image: Martyn Haworth)

The afternoon then ended painfully for Williams, who went down after a chase with Brad Halliday, and needed about nine minutes of treatment off the pitch before leaving on crutches.

Cameron Harper came on for the left-back and United looked to find a way back, Jordan Jones with a dangerous cross that saw Wyke almost set up Sadi.

Walker shot high over the bar after more positive Bradford play and, at the other end, a strong Sam Walker save denied Sadi.

It was a fast-paced game, United continuing to look to play out from the back and Jones growing into things on the left.

Yet the hosts should have doubled their lead when a Richie Smallwood free-kick found Cook behind the Carlisle defence, but instead of heading for goal he tried to set up Olly Sanderson, who could not convert.

Jones drew another save from keeper Walker with a dangerous shot from outside the box, before Jamie Walker had a Bradford effort blocked.

And the Bantams then got in for another great opportunity as Smallwood emerged from a midfield 50-50 before Cook fed Sanderson, only for Mellish to slide in to deny the forward at close range.

Debutant Biggins then charged down a Neill Byrne clearance, allowing Wyke to feed Sadi to the right, keeper Walker saving his shot.

The second half began with a raid from Tyreik Wright, who was fed by Clark Oduor but could not find a way to goal.

Archie Davies failed to make the most of a counter-attack before Wyke wasted a great chance to level, running onto a Davies pass that eluded Vela but hitting the right-hand post when a goal looked certain.

United, though, continued to play with enterprise at the start of the second half and, after home keeper Walker denied Harper from a free-kick, the Blues were level.

After a corner, Harper's cross was attacked by Neal but there looked little danger as Walker rose to gather the ball above his head - but the ball slipped through his hands and into the net.

United celebrate their equaliser...but Cook then struck again (Image: Martyn Haworth)

Carlisle then needed a superb double save from Lewis to keep them level a minute later, Cook getting free to his left and, when Lewis' save broke for Sanderson, United's No1 denied him superbly.

That proved the end of Thomas' afternoon, the defender needing treatment before being replaced by Sam Lavelle.

And despite United's continued attacking endeavours they then found themselves behind again 20 minutes from time.

First, Davies made a superb block to deny City sub Bobby Pointon, but from Wright's next delivery, Cook rose free to power a header past Lewis.

Ref Paul Howard then ignored home penalty shouts when Walker went over in the box, before United's caretakers made a double change, bringing on Dylan McGeouch and Luke Armstrong for Neal and Jones.

Carlisle struggled to create as they looked for a second way back, Harper's cross striking a Bradford defender but handball appeals turned down, and later joint caretaker Devitt booked for protesting after another decision.

Vela shot wide when an injury-time free-kick broke his way as United were beaten again - a third straight 2-1 defeat in all competitions.

Bradford: S Walker, Halliday, Byrne, Diabate, Kelly, Smallwood, Oduor (Pointon 65), Wright (Shepherd 89), J Walker, Sanderson (Pattison 89), Cook (Oliver 89). Not used: Doyle, Smith, Benn.

Goals: Cook 2, 70.

Booked: Byrne, Kelly.

United: Lewis, Davies, Williams (Harper 11), Thomas (Lavelle 61), Mellish, Neal (Armstrong 76), Vela, Biggins, Jones (McGeouch 76), Sadi, Wyke. Not used: Breeze, Barclay, O’Donoghue.

Goal: Neal 58.

Booked: Neal, Barclay, Davies, McGeouch, Devitt.

Ref: Paul Howard.

Crowd: 18,041 (1,756 United fans).